Claremont University Consortium

Once a humble workshed, the new administrative center for the Claremont University Consortium (CUC) in Claremont, California, is a stunning study in how creative light installations can give an existing structure a second life.

Central to the building’s rebirth is a vertical linear pattern of iLight Plexineon White 1X Series fixtures that highlight the exterior — redefining the structure’s public presence and acting as a precursor to new dynamic and user-friendly interior.

The Design Challenge

The goal of the project was to consolidate into one location several departments and services that previously were dispersed across campus. Opting to repurpose a gabled-roof workshop and storage shed went a long way toward achieving sustainability goals, but the CUC sought to go a step further — requiring that elements in the adaptive design also be environmentally sensitive, including lighting.

Toward that end, Nelson Jenkins, Owner of Lumen Architecture, used varying lengths of White Plexineon to efficiently and effectively accentuate the vertical lines of a new slatted cedar screen that envelopes the existing facade.

LTL Architects, project architect, designed the screen to make the building appear less utilitarian and more inviting.

That intent is especially apparent as the screen transitions from wall to entry canopy, where the slats are threaded with Plexineon in increased density to playfully highlight the structure’s sloped geometry while providing general illumination and way finding.

“The client really loves the effect of the Plexineon. The project has been considered a great success.” – Nelson Jenkins, Owner, Lumen Architecture PLLC

The Plexineon Advantage

Jenkins chose Plexineon in this case for several reasons. “The fixtures are weather resistant, durable, and they provide just the right brightness,” he says.

Due to past experience with the product, Plexineon’s reliability won over both him and now CUC.

“The client really loves the effect of the Plexineon,” he says. “The project has been considered a great success.”

Vertical strips of Plexineon highlight the entrance to the new Claremont University Consortium (CUC) administrative center. A random pattern of Plexineon adds excitement to what had been a bland structure.

Similar Content

The sign at the entrance to the new TopGolf in Houston glows with iLight Plexineon Blue Series fixtures

iLight custom bent the Plexineon to ensure a true representation of the TopGolf logo
Creating an Entrance That Fits to a Tee
Plexineon Adds Excitement to a Sleek and Unique Sporting Venue
Just off a major interstate running through Houston, TopGolf is a structure that’s impossible to miss.
The 65,000-square foot venue is not only sprawling, its sleek profile suggests something extraordinary.
Inside, a three-level golf driving range plus dining, live music, a rooftop bar and more deliver on that promise. Meanwhile outside, the entrance makes guests feel like VIPs, thanks to a sign that glows with iLight Plexineon Blue Series fixtures.
The Design Challenge
The first TopGolf to open in Houston, the new entertainment complex is the Dallas-based company’s largest in the country.
Designed by Aria Group Architects, Inc., the modern design is unexpected, reflecting the unique concept behind TopGolf. Part sports venue, part sophisticated hangout spot, it appeals to avid and casual golfers alike. The centerpiece is the driving range, featuring private hitting bays from which players hit targets and accrue points for distance and accuracy. Points are calculated by microchips embedded into regulation golf balls.
“It was stunning when we first saw it — really amazing. The Plexineon added that extra element we needed.” – Nicole Poole, Project Architectural Designer, Aria Group Architects, Inc.
To catch the attention of passers-by on the interstate, plans called for creating a bright sign that would serve as a shield on the building. The design team wanted an energy-efficient solution and — since it would be displayed within arm’s reach of arriving patrons — one that wouldn’t pose a safety hazard.
Plexineon not only met those requirements, it could also be custom bent to create endless possibilities.
“When we realized it could be shaped any way we wanted, we decided to do an overscale TopGolf logo and use blue — their primary branding color,” says Nicole Poole, Project Architectural Designer at Aria Group.
The Plexineon Advantage
The key was for iLight to create precise factory bends that would ensure a true representation of the TopGolf logo.
Lisa Maceda, Designer at Aria Group, says, “It could not have worked out better. iLight custom bent the Plexineon perfectly. It was easy to install from start to finish.”
The result is a striking, yet sophisticated, sign. “It definitely is an eye-catcher,” Maceda says. “We’d seen samples, but it was still surprising how really bright the Plexineon was. It has a great glow to it — very even, not overpowering.”
Poole agrees. “It was stunning when we first saw it — really amazing. The Plexineon added that extra element we needed.”
Noting that the new site’s VIP opening was TopGolf’s most successful yet, she says Plexineon was the perfect compliment to the red carpet experience: “It just added to the excitement.”

Within view of a nearby interstate, the sign is bright enough to attract attention
More information is available at www.ilight-tech.com

To create an even greater WOW effect, animate your Plexineon design with a DMX system.
This 80’ x 80’ art piece, Quadrille, uses over 1,000 feet of various Plexineon colors and is 200 feet in the air on the side of the Duke Energy Building in Charlotte, North Carolina. Distinct programmed animations are randomly selected so that a commuter never sees the same animation at the same time on subsequent days. Quadrille was designed by Michael Hayden who also designed Sky’s the Limit, the animated, neon ceiling art over the United Airlines underground walkway at O’Hare International Airport.
More information is available at www.ilight-tech.com